Phakamani Emmanuel Luthuli, a 36-year-old from Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal province, was overjoyed as he returned to the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to graduate after 14 years. Upon his return, he praised DUT for the wonderful work it had done in shaping his academic journey. Luthuli said that DUT was more than just an institution to him, it was a home away from home that had nurtured his growth and prepared him for the future.

He graduated with Cum Laude in his Advanced Diploma in Business Administration at the DUT 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony, which took place at Indumiso Hall in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, 12 May 2025.

Sharing his journey at DUT,  he said he started in 2008 at Riverside campus where he enrolled for his National Diploma in Management, which he graduated for in 2011, and he then enrolled for his second qualification in 2024 for the Advanced Diploma in Business Administration at Riverside campus.

Revealing the DUT living values he resonates with are honesty and accountability. He noted that honesty and accountability are two closely related values that emphasised truthfulness and responsibility, explaining that honesty refers to being truthful and sincere, while accountability involves taking responsibility for one’s actions and their consequences.

His biggest challenge as a student was managing work overload, as he was permanently employed, and he had to maintain proper time management to ensure a balance between his studies and work.

“My family was overjoyed when they heard about my graduation news, especially since I graduated with Cum Laude. I am grateful for their support they provided throughout my studies. Their encouragement and motivation played a huge role in helping me push through challenges and achieve my goal,” he said.

He is currently working at the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal as an Administrative Clerk Supervisor at Greytown Hospital, where he started working in July 2011. He also mentioned that he is contributing to the mission of delivering quality healthcare services to the community.

Luthuli’s advice to first-year students is to develop good habits and strategies to succeed by creating a schedule, prioritising tasks, attending lectures, and taking notes, as well as developing good study habits.

Pictured: Phakamani Emmanuel Luthuli

Photography: S’bonelo Dlamini

Phiwayinkosi Sibiya